Hands-on workshop featuring the whats, whys, and hows of plant grafting. Participants will have the chance to practice using provided rootstocks and scions; grafted plants can be taken home. Registration is $40. Registration deadline is Feb. 18. Limit: 10 participants.

The theme of the 2015 statewide conference is "Local Foods Across the School Meal Tray". All producers, parents, and food service professionals are invited! Join others for a day of connecting and learning from state and national speakers how to source healthy local foods to improve school food environments.

OEFFA’s Heart of Ohio Chapter presents a free public discussion and information session on the Starting and Preparing Transplants for Spring Planting.

Erin Harvey of The Kale Yard will be leading a discussion concerning the many tasks related to preparing for the spring planting of both a backyard garden and/or fields. Topics will include, but are not limited to, developing a planting schedule, greenhouse preparation, seed starting, maintaining healthy transplants, proper irrigation, hardening off transplants, soil preparation, and proper transplanting techniques.

This meeting is part of the OEFFA Heart of Ohio Chapter’s regular meeting schedule which includes pertinent topics for both the rural and urban farmer/gardener.

Please join OEFFA's Lake Effect Chapter for the Third Annual Growers Round Table, graciously hosted by Andy and Laura Miller. Local growers discuss the successes and challenges of the previous growing seasons and plans for the future. This is a great gathering to meet local growers and to learn from those making a living in ecological agriculture.

Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences will offer a two-day conference featuring multiple workshops and a trade show for landowners and small farmers, designed to help landowners and producers learn techniques to make their small farm operations more successful.

Researchers and educators with OSU Extension and the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, as well as industry experts, will conduct the workshops.

The March 13 session is from 2-5 p.m. at the Wilmington College Academic Farm, 1590 Fife Ave. in Wilmington. The event features hands-on workshops focusing on:
• Pastures and fence
• Specialty crop production techniques including hoop house management, irrigation, and grafting
• Woodlands management

The March 14 session is from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Wilmington College’s Boyd Cultural Arts Center, 1870 Quaker Way. This session will feature workshops by Ohio State and industry experts, and a trade show. Topics to be addressed during the March 14 session include:
• Farm management
• Livestock production
• Foods business and marketing
• Forages and pastures
• Vegetable and fruit production
• Organics

The conference is an outgrowth of the Ohio New and Small Farm College, an eight-week program created by OSU Extension that offers an introduction to the business of small farming for those who are new to the industry. The program offers information on budgeting, business planning, and developing a farm structure, among other issues.

Registration for the conference is $20 for the March 13 session and $60 for the March 14 session, or $70 for both days. The deadline to register is March 5.

Join us at the Farm In The Dell for a meeting of OEFFA's Little Miami Chapter. The Farm in the Dell is owned by Randy and Diane Dell. The grass-based Jersey dairy milks six cows with a herd of thirteen. Their pipeline milk parlor was built to pass Grade A inspection. For over 15 years, the Dells have used no chemicals on their 25 acres of pasture and hay. They currently offer herd-shares. Bring a dish to share.

Note: This meeting was originally scheduled for February 23, but was rescheduled due to weather.

Livestock operations come in all sizes, whether your operation is small or large, manure management is challenging. Please join us for a free workshop series covering the benefits and options regarding manure management.

Formed in late 2011, the Franklin County Local Food Council (FCLFC) seeks to expand, strengthen, and maintain a resilient and local food system in Franklin County and the surrounding area.The Council meets every other month; meetings are open to the public and all are welcome!

The workshop addresses the needs of individuals and landscape businesses regarding how to begin pruning, which branches to prune, and how much to prune. Registration is $50. Pre-registration is required; participation is limited.

Rural Action’s Season Creation Workshop will focus on methods used in the Season Creation model developed by Green Edge Organic Gardens. Their innovative use of high tunnel greenhouses and grow rooms ensures a year-round selection of seasonal vegetables, micro greens, and specialty mushrooms extending their growing season to include a fourth winter period. The workshop will include both on-farm and classroom portions and is taught by the farmers.